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UPDATE: St Moose victory marred by Break Up The Game injury

St Moose of St Croix romped to victory in the Premier's Cup at Ellis Thomas Downs on August 4, 2015. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Trust Me wins the Monroe Thomas Memorial ahead of Orithyia. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Trust Me wins the Monroe Thomas Memorial ahead of Orithyia. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Funny Accomodation romping to victory in the Axel Ritter Special. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Funny Accomodation romping to victory in the Axel Ritter Special. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
The closest finish of the day saw Bar Magic, ridden by Christian Santiago make it 3 for 3 for USVI based horses, winning the Allen Tiger Hodge Memorial over 7 furlongs in a time of 1: 32 and 3. Yes By Eric came home second and Coupon third. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
The closest finish of the day saw Bar Magic, ridden by Christian Santiago make it 3 for 3 for USVI based horses, winning the Allen Tiger Hodge Memorial over 7 furlongs in a time of 1: 32 and 3. Yes By Eric came home second and Coupon third. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
The Ellis Thomas Memorial, with a purse of $7.500, brought local success as Bitter Sweet Dream romped to victory, covering the 7 furlongs in a time of 1: 31 and 3 ahead of Scripture and Verse and Yourluckytohaveme. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
The Ellis Thomas Memorial, with a purse of $7.500, brought local success as Bitter Sweet Dream romped to victory, covering the 7 furlongs in a time of 1: 31 and 3 ahead of Scripture and Verse and Yourluckytohaveme. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Alex V. Lake’s My Pal Shawn took the BVI Sprint Classic, over 7 Furlongs and with a $ 7500 purse, crossing the line in 1:25 ahead of Star Ship Titan and Great Friends Rule. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Alex V. Lake’s My Pal Shawn took the BVI Sprint Classic, over 7 Furlongs and with a $ 7500 purse, crossing the line in 1:25 ahead of Star Ship Titan and Great Friends Rule. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Miss BVI Adorya R. Baly flanked by James Bates (left) and Governor of the USVI Kenneth E. Mapp. Photo: VINO
Miss BVI Adorya R. Baly flanked by James Bates (left) and Governor of the USVI Kenneth E. Mapp. Photo: VINO
Winner's circle: Team St Moose victorious today. Holding the trophy is Miss BVI Adorya R. Baly while right is Governor of St Thomas Kenneth E. Mapp and left is St Moose owner James Bates. Photo: VINO
Winner's circle: Team St Moose victorious today. Holding the trophy is Miss BVI Adorya R. Baly while right is Governor of St Thomas Kenneth E. Mapp and left is St Moose owner James Bates. Photo: VINO
Break Up The Game broke its foot in the race. Photo: VINO
Break Up The Game broke its foot in the race. Photo: VINO
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI – The 8th running of the Premier’s Cup at the Ellis Thomas Downs on Tuesday August 4, 2015 was won by St Moose, but the race will go down in the history books for sadder reasons.

Already marred by a false start and horses reluctant to enter the gate, the 1 and ¼ miler would soon be steeped in more controversy as despite a romping victory for St Moose in a time of 1: 58 and 1/5th, last year’s winner, Break Up The Game broke his foot crossing the line to claim second place.

Many owners, trainers and fans from St Thomas were surprised no veterinarian was at the track for such an important race day and others even questioned why they (the owners) let their horses even run knowing there was no veterinarian.

Wrol Up led the pack, although only just, for half the race, but St Moose let loose down the back straight and romped to an easy victory

“He’s been out injured for a while,” commented James Bates “but the way he has shown in training, we knew he was ready and would run well.”

Wrol Up, who also seemed to sustain an injury, finished 5th whilst Chilean Boy was 3rd and Town Hall 4th.

Earlier, and in slightly happier circumstances, the Monroe Thomas Cup went to Trust Me from St Thomas, ridden by Winston Hurst.

Orithyia came second and Power Ten Third

The Axel Ritter Special saw Funny Accommodation, also from St Thomas, take home the $6,000 purse ahead of Southern Dunn, and San Mirar Atras.

San Mirar Atras and Meddling Birdie were battling it out down the back straight, but Funny Accommodation took the lead around the final bend and sped to victory.

Thrilling race

The closest finish of the day saw Bar Magic, ridden by Christian Santiago make it 3 for 3 for USVI based horses, winning the Allen Tiger Hodge Memorial over 7 furlongs in a time of 1: 32 and 3. Yes By Eric came home second and Coupon third.

Bar Magic came from third down the home straight to claim the victory by a head.

Bitter Sweet Dream takes first win for VI

The Ellis Thomas Memorial, with a purse of $7.500, brought local success as Bitter Sweet Dream romped to victory, covering the 7 furlongs in a time of 1: 31 and 3 ahead of Scripture and Verse and Yourluckytohaveme.

There was a review for a foul but the Stewards disallowed it and L&B Racing Stables had the day’s first success.

Alex V. Lake’s My Pal Shawn took the BVI Sprint Classic, over 7 Furlongs and with a $ 7500 purse, crossing the line in 1:25 ahead of Star Ship Titan and Great Friends Rule.

The last race of the day, held in almost darkness after the long delay in getting help for break up the game, saw Pumped Up Kicks claim the Angel “Scratchie” Malone memorial in a time of 1:57 and 1.

The day will be ever remembered by the large crowd as the day that Break Up The Game gave everything he had to give in pursuit of a win and bring many questions for the Management of the track and the race meets.

As one race day aficionado commented, “I hope this is a wakeup call to everyone that are involved in horse racing, the promoters, the owners, trainers, fans, and the politicians. Horse racing in the Virgin Islands is not supposed to be a Gladiator Sport like that of the Roman times.

See previous story posted August 4, 2015

STX’s St Moose trots away with Premier’s Cup

-Break Up The Game breaks leg; said not to be doing so well

St Moose of St Croix copped the Premier’s Cup in today’s August 4, 2015 Festival races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay in a time of 1: 58 and 1 ahead of injured Break Up The Game in second, Chilean Boy in third and Town Hall fourth.

Ahead of the big race, the eighth Premier’s Cup sponsored by Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, the race-win count was 3 – 2 to the United States Virgin Islands.

However by the end of the one and 1/8 race with a purse of $15,000, St Moose made it 4 – 2.

Break Up The Game, which had won the Premier's Cup in 2014, broke its foot in today's race. He is said not to be doing so well after the injury and there is talk that he might be put down.

We will bring you additional information and photographic coverage in a subsequent news article.

18 Responses to “UPDATE: St Moose victory marred by Break Up The Game injury”

  • ccc (04/08/2015, 18:23) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    St thomas gone with everything well saw
  • crucian (04/08/2015, 18:24) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    deh Moose went loose!!!!
  • ta ta (04/08/2015, 18:33) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Oh no look at his leg...Smh
  • FIRE (04/08/2015, 18:53) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Lnb have de moose cooler only dmaker could bake de moose
  • Well (04/08/2015, 19:54) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    That's why I don't like horse racing. I think the horses are treated in such of an inhumane way, especially when they are injured.
  • smdh (04/08/2015, 21:54) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    I really didn't like how long those guys from Rock were requesting a trailer to deal with that horse before one was sent, that was ridiculous and then they sent what was basically a rust bucket....smdh...
  • FAST ASLEEP (04/08/2015, 22:00) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    where is the dawn Premier to give out the cup?
  • Virgin Islander (04/08/2015, 22:59) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    I am not going back on that track until these people get their act together. Today was a national embarrassment. That track is poorly run and horse race in the Virgin Islands (Tortola) will die a slow death if not addressed soon. Imagine we won one race, took an hour to get a severely injured horse off the track and ran the last race in almost darkness. I don't know about the rest of you but I've had enough...
    • big (04/08/2015, 23:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Blame the horse race association them, with all the money them charge, let them up keep the place
  • rattie (04/08/2015, 23:05) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply

    M**on waste so much money and will not fix the tract the election is over so he could not care less

    • the rock (05/08/2015, 04:49) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      give it a break u damn idiot, that happens all over the world, u should be asking where is all that money the track does collect on race day goes, maybe M**** them should start using the treasury cahiers to collect it!
      • don 1 (06/08/2015, 13:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The racing secretary know just where the money does go. all of The boys does collect a checque
  • usvi (04/08/2015, 23:54) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mapp was not there to give out the governor's cup in STT but he's here center
  • Yes (05/08/2015, 09:26) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    LOL ayo ppl does just make me laugh. How you mean the man here center. hahahaaaa
  • Vision (06/08/2015, 08:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you don't know and you are not sure you ask a question. On whose Head is the Hat for the up keeping of the Horse Race Track on which the Horses run?????


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